Peppermint Candy Cake Recipes

PEPPERMINT CANDY ICE CREAM CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch springform pan and line the bottom with parchment.
• Combine the melted butter and crushed wafer cookies in a medium bowl. Press the mixture into the bottom and almost up the entire side of the prepared pan. Bake for 10 minutes. Let cool completely before using.
• Fold the peppermint candies into the ice cream. Scoop the peppermint candy ice cream onto the cookie crust, packing it in tightly. Spread with an offset spatula to make a smooth top. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze until firm, 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
• Unmold the cake by running a knife around the edge, then unhinge the springform and remove. Invert the cake onto a sheet of plastic wrap and remove the bottom of the pan and the parchment. Place a serving plate on the bottom and invert once more. Keep in the freezer until ready to frost.
• Put the chocolate in a medium heatsafe bowl. Bring the heavy cream to a simmer in a small saucepan. Pour the cream over the chocolate and stir until smooth. Allow to cool 10 minutes before using.
• Frost the top and sides of the cake with the ganache and top with the crushed peppermint candies. If the cake begins to get too soft, put it back into the freezer for a few minutes.
• Freeze another 1 1/2 to 2 hours or up to overnight. Let the cake sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before slicing and serving.

PEPPERMINT CANDY CHEESECAKE

Steps:

• Place a greased 10-in. springform pan on a double thickness of heavy-duty foil (about 18 in. square). Securely wrap foil around pan. In a small bowl, combine the cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Press onto the bottom of prepared pan. Place pan on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° until set, 8-10 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. , In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Beat in the sour cream, flour and vanilla. Add eggs; beat on low speed just until combined. Fold in crushed candies and a few drops of red food coloring if desired. Pour over crust. Place springform pan in a large baking pan; add 1 in. of hot water to larger pan., Bake at 350° until center is just set and top appears dull, 55 to 65 minutes. Remove springform pan from water bath. Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully run a knife around edge of pan to loosen; cool 1 hour longer. Refrigerate overnight. Remove sides of pan., In a small bowl, beat cream until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners' sugar; beat until stiff peaks form. Pipe around edge of cheesecake and sprinkle with additional crushed candies.

PEPPERMINT SWIRL CHOCOLATE LAVA CAKES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease and dust four 8-ounce ovenproof ramekins with unsweetened cocoa powder and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Line a plate with parchment paper.
• Combine the white chocolate chips and heavy cream in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave, stirring every 15 seconds, until melted, about 1 minute. Stir in the peppermint extract. Divide the white ganache into 2 small bowls. Add 3 drops of red food coloring to one bowl to tint it red and 3 drops of white food coloring to the other bowl to brighten the white ganache. Refrigerate, covered, until mostly set, about 15 minutes.
• Transfer the red and white ganache to individual piping bags and snip each tip to make a 1/2-inch opening. On the prepared plate, pipe two 1-inch-high dollops of each ganache side by side, alternating the color, to form a rough checkerboard cube of 2 red dollops and 2 white dollops. (If the ganache is too stiff to pipe, microwave for 10 seconds). Repeat 3 more times for a total of 4 checkerboard cubes. Freeze until solid, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, whisk together the flour and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. Combine the dark chocolate and butter in another medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave, stirring every 15 seconds, until completely melted, about 1 minute 15 seconds. Whisk until smooth.
• Combine the eggs, yolks and granulated sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Mix in the melted chocolate mixture. Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and fold in the flour mixture with a rubber spatula.
• Fill the prepared ramekins halfway with the batter. Place a frozen ganache cube in the center of each, then cover with the remaining batter.
• Bake until the cakes bounce back slightly when gently pressed and the centers are slightly sunk from the ganache, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Let cool in the ramekins for 10 minutes, then invert and unmold each onto an individual dessert plate. Place a paper snowflake cutout or doily over each cake and dust with confectioners' sugar. Serve immediately.

PEPPERMINT LAYER CAKE WITH CANDY CANE FROSTING

Steps:

• Make the cake: Position racks in the middle and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter three 8-inch-round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper; butter the parchment and dust with flour, tapping out the excess. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl. Combine the milk and the vanilla and peppermint extracts in a small bowl; set aside.
• Beat the butter in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Gradually beat in 1 cup sugar, then increase the mixer speed to high and continue beating until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
• Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the milk mixture, beginning and ending with the flour mixture, until just combined. Scrape down the side of the bowl, then increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until smooth, about 5 more minutes.
• In a separate large bowl (using clean beaters), beat the egg whites with a mixer on high speed until foamy. Gradually add the remaining 1/2 cup sugar and continue beating until stiff, shiny peaks form, about 6 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the whites into the batter in 3 additions until combined.
• Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans. Bake, switching the position of the pans about halfway through, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Let the cakes cool 10 minutes in the pans, then run a knife around the edges and invert onto racks to cool completely. Peel off the parchment. (The cakes can be made up to 1 day ahead; wrap in plastic and store at room temperature.)
• Make the frosting: Fill a medium saucepan with 1 to 2 inches of water and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Combine the sugar, corn syrup, egg whites, 2 tablespoons water and the salt in a heatproof bowl and set over the saucepan (do not let the bowl touch the water). Whisk until the sugar dissolves and the mixture registers 165 degrees F on a candy thermometer, about 8 minutes. Remove the bowl from the pan and beat with a mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form, about 5 minutes. Increase the mixer speed to high and beat until fluffy and cool, about 4 more minutes. Add the vanilla and peppermint extracts and beat until combined, 1 more minute.
• Assemble the cake: Place 1 cake layer on a platter and spread 1 cup frosting on top; sprinkle with about 2 tablespoons crushed candy canes. Top with another cake layer, spread with 1 cup frosting and sprinkle with another 2 tablespoons crushed candy canes. Top with the final cake layer, then frost the top and side of the cake with the remaining frosting. Sprinkle more crushed candy canes on top.

PEPPERMINT CANDY CAKE

Steps:

• Combine margarine, sugar, eggs and vanilla in large mixing bowl.
• Beat on high for 3 minutes.
• Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and powder and salt.
• Add alternately with water to creamed mixture.
• Blend just until combined; add candy.
• Pour into 2 greased and floured round pans.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes.
• Eat plain or frost with vanilla icing.
• Garnish with crushed peppermint candy.